Connect with us

Jobs/Appointments

Strive Masiyiwa Becomes First African on Netflix Board

Published

on

Strive Masiyiwa

By Adedapo Adesanya

The global streaming platform, Netflix, has appointed the Group Executive Chairman and founder of Econet, Mr Strive Masiyiwa, to its board.

The appointment has made Mr Masiyiwa the first-ever African to join the board of directors of the company.

Mr Masiyiwa is Zimbabwe’s richest businessman with an estimated net worth of $1 billion and leads mobile telecom giant Econet Global’s operations in over 20 countries across Africa and Europe.

Currently serving on several international boards including the Global Advisory boards of Bank of America and Stanford University as well as chairing the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, the Zimbabwean telecommunication mogul brings with him a wealth of managerial experience to the Netflix directorate.

Speaking on his appointment, Netflix Chairman and co-CEO, Mr Reeds Hastings, said, “We are delighted to welcome Strive to the Netflix board. His entrepreneurship and vision in building businesses across Africa and beyond will bring valuable insights and experience to our board as we work to improve and serve more members all around the world.”

His appointment comes a week after Ms Susan Rice, former US ambassador to the United Nations, disclosed she would be quitting her role on the Netflix board to join US President-elect, Mr Joe Biden’s administration in January 2021.

He also remains the only African member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Committee on Conscience.

Born in Zimbabwe, Mr Masiyiwa had his higher education at Edinburgh, Scotland before obtaining an Electrical Engineering degree at the University of Wales in 1983.

After working for about a year in the ICT industry at Cambridge, he returned to Zimbabwe in 1984 to work as a telecoms engineer for the country’s telephone company.

He later quit his job and founded his own telecom company, Econet Wireless in 1993. But Mr Masiyiwa’s Econet could not secure an operating licence until 1998 when it finally ended telecom monopoly in Zimbabwe after a five-year legal battle with the late Robert Mugabe-led administration.

In the same year, the telecoms tycoon listed Econet on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, making it a publicly-traded company. Since then, he has remained at the helm of affairs of Econet Group. He also owns a 50 per cent stake in Africa’s largest fibre optics business, Liquid Telecom.

Speaking on his appointment, he said, “Netflix is at the forefront of bringing great entertainment from anywhere in the world to everyone in the world, and I look forward to working with the board and all stakeholders to continue its traditions of innovation and growth.”

Globally recognised as one of Africa’s most prolific philanthropists, Mr Masiyiwa donated $10 million earlier this year in funding and support to over 1,700 healthcare workers to aid the response against COVID-19.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Jobs/Appointments

Olaniyan to Serve as NGX Group Chief Strategy Officer

Published

on

Jumoke Olaniyan NGX Group

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Ms Jumoke Olaniyan has been appointed as the Chief Strategy Officer of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Group Plc.

In her new role, Ms Olaniyan will lead enterprise-wide strategy formulation and execution across the organisation, driving initiatives aligned with its ambition to deepen market liquidity, expand product innovation, broaden investor participation, and enhance long-term stakeholder value.

The role is central to strengthening cross-functional alignment and organisational effectiveness as NGX Group continues to evolve its integrated market infrastructure model.

NGX Group, in a statement, said it strengthened its executive leadership with the appointment of Ms Olaniyan to advance its next phase of strategic growth, digital transformation, product innovation and market development.

Her appointment underscores the company’s continued focus on disciplined strategy execution, strong governance and sustainable value creation.

It also reflects the group’s deliberate effort to strengthen its leadership structure through broader representation at the executive level, ensuring that women continue to play influential roles in shaping the evolution of Nigeria’s capital markets while contributing meaningfully to national economic development.

Before joining NGX Group, Ms Olaniyan held senior leadership roles at FMDQ Group Plc and FDHL Group, where she played key roles in business development, market expansion, and product innovation across the fixed income, currencies and derivatives markets.

With over two decades of experience spanning financial markets, strategy, consulting, and banking, she brings extensive expertise in market structure, stakeholder engagement, and enterprise transformation.

She holds a degree in Accounting as well as an MBA from INSEAD Business School and has built a reputation for driving growth, strengthening market participation, and delivering innovative financial market solutions that enhance transparency, efficiency, and market resilience.

Continue Reading

Jobs/Appointments

Tinubu to Swear in Tunji Disu as IGP Wednesday After Police Council’s Nod

Published

on

tunji disu new IGP

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The appointment of Mr Tunji Disu as the substantive Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has been ratified by the Nigeria Police Council (NPC).

The endorsement of the acting police chief was done on Monday at the council’s meeting held at the State House in Abuja, and chaired by President Bola Tinubu.

In attendance were Vice President Kashim Shettima, state governors and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr Hashimu Argungu.

Others in attendance were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr George Akume; the National Security Adviser, Mr Nuhu Ribadu; the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila; the Minister of Police Affairs, Mr Ibrahim Gaidam; the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike; and the head of service, Mrs Esther Didi Walson-Jack.

Mr Disu was praised for his outstanding service to the nation through various means. He has held critical operational, investigative, and strategic command positions nationwide. His last position was as Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of the Special Protection Unit and the Force CID Annex, Lagos.

The endorsement of his appointment on Monday paves the way for his swearing-in by Mr Tinubu on Wednesday. The ceremony will take place during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, scheduled for the same day.

The President appointed Mr Disu as the new police chief, following the resignation of the former occupier of the seat, Mr Kayode Egbetokun.

Mr Disu was born on April 13, 1966, in Lagos State and joined the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent.

He rose through the ranks with multiple qualifications in public administration, forensic investigation, criminology, security, legal psychology, and entrepreneurship-credentials that reflect his commitment to knowledge-driven, modern policing.

His state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, lauded Mr Disu for his exemplary services as a policeman, especially when he served as the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos State between 2015 and 2021, where his tenure earned him and the RRS recognition for excellence in crime control.

Continue Reading

Jobs/Appointments

Court Sanctions CHI Limited for Wrongful Employment Termination

Published

on

chi limited

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The termination of the employment of one Mr Bodunrin Akinsuroju by CHI Limited has been declared as unlawful by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

Delivering judgment on the matter, Justice Sanda Yelwa of the Lagos Judicial Division of the court held that the sacking of Mr Akinsuroju did not comply strictly with the provisions of the contract of employment and the Employee Handbook.

Consequently, the company was directed to pay him the sum of N2 million as general damages for wrongful termination and N200,000 as costs of action, while Mr Akinsuroju was ordered to return the company’s properties in his possession or pay their assessed market value.

Justice Yelwa found that the contract agreement between both parties clearly required either party to give 30 days’ notice or payment in lieu of notice after confirmation of appointment, and there was no evidence that the employee was given the required notice or paid salary in lieu of notice.

The judge held that failure to comply with this fundamental term amounted to a breach of the contract of employment, thereby rendering the termination wrongful.

Mr Akinsuroju had claimed that the allegation of misconduct against him was unfounded and not established, maintaining that the disciplinary committee proceedings were prejudicial and that the termination of his employment was without justifiable cause and without compliance with the agreed terms of his employment.

In defence, CHI Limited contended that it had the right to terminate the employment of Mr Akinsuroju and that the termination was lawful and in accordance with the contract of employment and the Code of Conduct.

In opposition, counsel to Mr Akinsuroju submitted that the alleged breaches were not proved and that the termination letter took immediate effect without the requisite 30 days’ notice or payment in lieu of notice as stipulated in the letter of appointment and the Employee Handbook, urging the court to hold that the termination was wrongful and to grant the reliefs sought.

Continue Reading

Trending